When young Latina and Latin American women turn 15, many of them have a quinceañera, a celebration that marks the transition between childhood and young adulthood. But not everyone is able to have this coming-of-age party – whether it be financial reasons or it just not being the right time. For Lorena del Carmen Navarro, she knew her parents could not afford a quince, so she never asked for her one. When she turned 30, she hoped to have doble quinceañera, but she was pregnant and bedridden, so she had to pass on the party again. Three years ago, she began making plans for her 45th – aka a quince x three. And now her dream party is going viral on Twitter, thanks to her son, Saúl Ramírez.
Lorena went all out for her party that had about 150 guests. She rented out an event hall, practiced a surprise dance with her husband (they danced to “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran), had a court made up of her husband, friends, and relatives, and attended a Catholic mass before the event. But she didn’t follow all traditional aspects of a quince. In lieu of a cake, for example, they shared Krispy Kreme donuts. For her, the party was a chance to reflect on who she has become. “It’s just a celebration of life and being thankful to God for the things I’ve achieved and the things he’s given me,” she told Remezcla. “It’s just been a good life.”
When Saúl shared the photos – taken by Jocelyn Marquez – he didn’t provide much context. But the internet was certainly feeling it. More than 74,000 people liked the series of photos, which show Lorena beaming as she poses in a tiara and a salmon dress with a hint of sparkle. Navarro doesn’t really know what it means to go viral, however. “I’m not really about social media, so I really don’t know what it means to be viral,” she added. “But from what I hear from my family, it’s a good thing. Overall, I’m thankful!”
March 3 at 8 a.m. ET: We’ve updated to add quotes from Lorena del Carmen Navarro.